herbert chase



(No Model.)

J. H. CHASE.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT'.

IlLL

N. PETERS.PmwLnmgmpher. washington, D. C.

Y Aw lf//in'r UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

J. HERBERT CHASE, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

P-BCIFICATION forming par.. of Letters Patent No- 360,280. dated March 29, 1887.

Application {iled July 11, 1882. Serial No. 66,383. (No model.) Patented in England September 29, 1882. No. 4,633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. HERBERT CHASE, of Montreal, in the county of Montreal and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, (for which I have obtained patent in Great Britain, No. 4,633, dated September 29, 1882,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanical musical instruments using a perforated music-sheet as the medium for controlling, as it travels through the instrument, the sounding of the reeds or other sounding devices employed, the orguinette,77 so called, being a Well-known illustration of such instruments.

The invention mainly consists in a valve of fiexible material and substantially circular form to the bellows of musical instruments, secured in position at its central portion only and left free at its edges to vibrate, in combination with a fender, also secured at its central portion.

The invention also consists in the combination, with bellows and exhausters or feeders located in pairs alongside of each other, and those ofeach pair one above the other and connected together to work laterally, of a windchest having two separate compartments, both in communication with said bellows, one ofthe compartments being in communication with the eXhausters and the other with the raceway and reed-chest of the instrument.

The invention also consists of other features, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In addition'to the above this invention embraces other features ofimprove'ments, which will hereinafter fully appear.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, a mechanical musical instrument of the present improved construction is illustrated, with a system of bellows for sounding reeds by ex'- hausting air through them.

Figure l is a plan View; Fig. 2, aside elevation with the side of the casing to the instrument removed; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section on line 3 3, Figs. l and 4; Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 4, and below the line of travel of the perforated music-sheet through the instrument; Fig. 6, a longitudinal vertical section on line 6 G, Fig. 3, of the paris shown in Fig. 5; Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, longitudinal, horizontal, and vertical sections, on an enlarged scale, in detail, of the reed-chest, constructed, also, as a tremulant and swell-box; Figs. 9 and l0, respectively, detail plan and section of the valves and their fenders to the bellows,.&c. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View of the reed-chest, showing a construction thereofin accordance with thisinvention, and hereinafter particularly referred to.

In the drawings, A represents the casing or cabinet of the instrument, composed of sides B, ends C, and top D.

Eis the bellows or reservoir, occupying the lower portion of the casing A. The bellows or reservoir E is horizontal, and its upper side board, F, is fixed to a longitudinal vertical central board, G, secured to the under side of the casing-top D, and its lower side board, H, is arranged to open from and close against the upper side board, F. The bellows or reservoir E, otherwise, is constructed and arranged and of itself works from the operation of exhausters J J J2 J, combined therewith as hereinafter described.

The exhausters J J J2 J3 are in two pairs, arranged, those of each pair, one above the other, with an open space, a, between and upon opposite sides of the vertical central board, G, and between it and the sides B of the casing A. Of each pair of exhausters the lower ones are attached to the upper fixed board, F, of the bellows or reservoir E, and their moving sides b open from and close against said board F. The upper exhausters are attached to the under side of the casingtop D, and their moving sides o open from and close against said top D. The soworking sides b and c, respectively, of each pair of exhausters have a series of air-passages, d, through them for air to pass out as they close. These air-passages d of each exhauster are similarly grouped about a common center, and each group is covered by a leather or other similar liexible valve, f, securedin place at its central portion only by a screw, ft, and thus adapted to open outwardly for air to pass out only from the exhausters. Each ilexible valve f is guarded by a plate or fender, g, made of metal or other suitable rigid material, and shaped ICO to cover to a greater or less extent the ilexible valve. The face of each fender toward the valve is made sufficiently daring, as shown at Z, (giving it an outer concave and an inner convex shape,) to allow the valves to open to the necessary extent in the operation of the bellows to which they are attached. The fenders g protect the valves and keep them always in their best position for operation.

The two moving` sides b c of each pair of eXhausters J J JAz J3 are connected by a rod, m, pivoted to each, and the moving side of each of the lower eXhausters is connected by a separate pitman-rod, K, to separate crankarms n of a common horizontal driving-shaft, L. The driving-shaft L extends across and from side to side of the instrument, and between said sides it acts as a feed-roll for feeding the perforated music-sheet M through the instrument.

N is a presser-roll above the feed-roll L,for confining the music-sheet to the feedroll.

The exhausters of each pair, arranged one above the other and connected together and to cranks of a common driving-shaft, as above described, open and close alternately, and those of each pair work within substantially the same space, between the under side of the casing-top D and the stationary part F ot' the bellows E, and for each pair of exhausters to work in pairs after each other,in lieu of simultaneously, their operatingcranks of the com mon drivingshaft are arranged at different points in the circle of rotation of the drivingshaft.

o are air-passages grouped about a common center in the stationary board of bellows or reservoir E, and connecting such bellows with thelower exhauster of each pair of exhausters, andp are air-passages grouped about a common center in the casing-top D, and connecting the upper exhauster ot' each pair of exhausters with one compartment, O, of a windchest, O P. The wind-chest O P is attached to and across the upper side of the casng-top D. The several groups of airpassages 0 p are each provided with liexible valves f and `fenders g, and these valves open inwardly and are constructed and arranged and operate the same as the valves and fenders to the groups of air-passages d of each of the eX- hausters J J/ J t J 3, hereinbefore described.

r is a vertical air-passage leading from the compartment O of the wind-chest O P, through the central vertical block, G, into the bellows or reservoir E. The compartment P of the wind-chest O P is alongside of and parallel to but separate from the other compartment, O.

t are vertical air-passages leading from the wind-chest compartment P, through the central vertical board, G, into the bellows or reservoir E.

The upper and outer surface of the windchest O P makes the usual bed or raceway, Q, of the instrument, for the travel of the perforated music-sheet'7 by the rotation of the feed and presser rolls,when such rolls are operated by the crank-handle R, and it has aslotted opening, a, which runs across the instrument 'from side to side, and opens to the raceway Q and to the compartment P of the wind-chest O P.

S are parallel cheek-pieces, one at each end of the wind-chest. These cheek-pieces run lengthwise of the instrument, and are secured in place in any suitable manner, and their projections o above the bed or raceway Q make guides for the opposite edges ofthe music-sheet in its travel through the instrument.

T is a framing or lid composed of sido pieces, uw, end pieces, a", and top y. This lid T rests at each side upon the upper edges of the cheekpieces S, and at the rear end of the instrument it is hung by headed pins al in horizontal slots b2 of posts ci, attached to the cheek-picccs S, and at the forward end it is coniined in place by studs di, which enter into and engage with holes f 2 in vertical spring-arms U, secured to the casing-top D. This hinging and attachment of the lid T enables it to be freely and easily attached and detached and opened and closed from its seat or rest upon the cheekpieces by simply releasing it from its springarms and swinging it upon its hinges without necessarily detaching it from its hinging-posts ci. The lid T carries the presser-roll N, and the cheek-pieces the feedroll; and when the lid is raised on its hinges or removed the presser-roll is lifted from the feed-roll.

V is a reed-chest, and I(flare the reeds. Each reed is made, as usual, of a block, g, and a vibrating tongue, g". The reeds are severally placed alongside cach other against the inner surface ofthe bottom boardJ, ofthe reed-chest, and in this position they are severally secured by headed screws Z2 passing through each end of the reed-blocks into the bottom board. The bottomboard, h2, has a series of separate airpassages, mi, through it, severally leading to the vibrating tongues of the reeds, and these lair-passages are each of a length and width to leave the reed-tongues from the toe for a portion of their length toward the heel open to said air-passages mi.

a2 are the reed-cells, one to each reed. These reed-cells are above the reeds in the reed-chest, and each cell has parallel upright walls 9"", which run lengthwise of the reeds along and over the line ofj uncture of the adjoining edges of the reed-blocks g, and also atop wall, s2. All the upright and side walls, 11" s2, preferably, are in one piece or block of wood, XV, which is placed against the inner face of one of the side walls of the recdchest, and the upright walls a2 are over the lines ofjuucture of the adjoining edges ofthe reed-blocks, and all so as to make a series of separate reed-cells,

each of which covers and incloses a tongue of a reed from its toe for a portion of its length toward its heel, and is open at the end tl toward the heel, but closed at all other parts. This block W, containing the reed-cells, can be IOO IIO

easily removed from the reed-chest, thus giving free access to the reeds for tuning them, replacing broken reeds, or other necessary purposes.

The reed-chest is closed by a -cover, X, secured in place by screws o2, or other suitable fastening devices, preferably such as are readily detachable and attachable from time to time, as may be desired. This cover X at each end projects beyond the ends of thereed-chest, and it has four circular air-holes, 102, through it, arranged at equal distances apart and in a straight line along the length of the cover, and opening to the inside of the reed-chest directly above the reed-cell block NV. The cover X also has a single circular air-hole, x2, which opens to the reed-chest, andv is located at one side ofthe line of air-holes w, and in line with a closed portion of the cover between two of said air-holes w?. This air-hole fr, located singly, as described, has within the reedchest Va tremulant valve, Y, constructed and arranged, as usual, to freely vibrate within the reed-chest from the passage of air through said air-hole into and thence out of the reedchest through its reed-cells, reeds, and air-passages mi.

Z is a slide board, having a slot, a3, at each end, by which it is arranged to slide lengthwise upon the cover X ot' the reed-chest over headed screw lguide-pins b,'suitably located therefor.

d3 are three circular air-holes through the slide-board Z, and in a straight line along its length, and at equal distances apart, and of a shape corresponding to three of the four airholes 'w2 through the cover of reedchest. The ai r-holes d3 are so arranged, and the slideboard Z and its slots are of such length, respectively, in relation to the location ofthe guidepins, that the slide-board in being moved in one direction, and to the full extent of its movement in such direction, then fully closes the four air-holes to2 through the cover of the reed-chest,v and in being moved in the other direction, and to the full extent of its movement in such direction, then fully opens said four air-holes url three of them because of their being then coincident with the three holes d3 in said slide, and the fourth and remaining one because said slide has passed beyond it. The slide Z has also a single airhole, f3, corresponding in-shape, size, and location to the single air-hole x2 through the cover of the reed-chest. The single air-holes f3 m2 are relatively situated to have the single air-hole x2, leading through the cover of and into the reed-chest, open when the four other air-holes, wz, into said reed-chest are closed, and to have said single air-hole f3 of the cover closed when said four air-holes w2 are opened. This relative opening and closing of the` airholes through the cover of the reed-chest are secured by moving the slide-board, as before explained.

g3 is a knob attached to slide-board for convenience in operating it. The reed-chest V,

constructed and arranged in its several parts as described, is placed within an opening, h3, of the hinged lid T, made of suitable shape to receive it, and it rests by its bottom board upon the bed or raceway Q, or, if the perforated niusic-sheet is in the instrument upon and over the raceway,then upon it, (the musicsheet.) Vhen the reed-'chest is so placed its several air-passages m2, leading toits reeds, are directly over the slot a of the raeeway Q., which leads to the compartmentPof the windchest O P, and, again, the end projections, Z, of its top board, X, overlap each side 'of the lid T, and thus prevent it from dropping through and out ofthe lid-opening h in one direction only, should the lid be raised from its position of rest by swinging it upon its hinges, or be detached from the instrument. The dropping of the reed-chest in either direction from its opening of the lid T can be also prevented with abutton, m3, hung to the inside of the lid T, and a notch, ai, in the proper side ofthe reed-chest, for an interlock ot' the button with it. (See Fig. et.)

The peculiar construction of the reed-cells u? andthe arrangement of their walls 1" directly upon the reed-blocks, together with the arrangement ofthe reedblocks alongside of each other, while giving each reed a separate cell, secure a great economy in space and reduce the width of the music-sheet requisite between its several rows of perforations, and as a consequence considerably reduce the music-sheet in its whole widtluns compared with the music sheet necessary when the reeds are within or between the walls of separate reed-cells, as heretofore.

Again, by the construction ofthe cover T lo the reed-chest with air-passagesw2andasingle air-passage, .122, and tremulant valve Y, in combination with a slide, Z, constructed and arranged to open and close said air-passages, as described, swell and tremulant effects can be obtained in the sounding of the reeds from the passage ofaliierforated music-sheetthrough the instrument, and the working ofthe wind mechanism herein described, as is plainly obvious without further particular description herein.

As the reed-chest V and lid T are arranged together, as described, the reed-chest is free to lift and lower within thelid, as necessary, and also to be easily and readily attached and detached, as desired.

Although the reed-chest has been described as adapted for both swell and tremulant effects, the construction of the reed-chest for either onel or the other of such effects may be omitted, if so desired.

The connection of the upper exhausters, J J2, with the compartment O ot' a wind-chest, O P, and such compartment O directly with the bellows E, and the connection ofthe lower exhausters directly with the bellows and the bellows with the other compartment, P, of the windchestO P,equalizes the drawing of air by the bellows through the reeds, in consequence of the operation of each set of exhausters so IIO connected with the bellows, andinthat respect the two compartments of the wind-chest are (advantageous, although, as is obvious, thetwo '4 compartments may be made into one, if so desired, without materially or practically affecting the working of the mechanism herein described to sound the reeds.

The arrangement of the exhausters and of the bellows or reservoir herein described obviously economizes space while securing most effective wind mechanism; and, again, the attachment described of the valves to the eX- haustcrs and bellows obviously is most simple, cheap, effective, durable, and practical.

if desired, feeders or force-bellows may be substituted for the eXhausters or exhaust-bellows herein particularly described, of course making the obvious and Well-known necessary changes in the arrangements of the valves and other parts; and in case of substitution and changes such as stated, the description herein given of the exhausters or exhaust-bellows is as well applicable to feeders or force-bellows.

rIhe reeds arranged according` to this invention have been particularly described as provided with separate cells; but while separate cells are preferable, fair tones may be secured from them by arranging in the reed-chest a partition, A, substantially parallel to the reeds, but preferably on an incline. (See Fig. 1l, which is a sectional view in detail in illustration thereof.) A partition so arranged acts to qualify the tones of the reeds substantially the same as the separate cells for the reeds.

The partition A2 in the reed-chest just above described, as also the parts ofthe reed-chest making the separate reed-cells, may be either permanently attached to the reed-chest or so attached as to be easily attached and detached at pleasure. The latter method is preferable, for reasons hereinbefore given in connection with the description of the block YV, which contains the separate reed-cells.

The reed-chest having reeds arranged alongside of each other and a construction to qualify the tones of the reeds, all substantially as described` may be permanently secured in its position in the instrument, in lieu of being confined in place, as particularly described and shown; but obviously it is preferable to arrange it within the instrument for its easy insertion and removal.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A valve of flexible material and substantially of circular form, attached to the bellows of musical instruments, and secured in position at its central portion only and left free at its edges to vibrate, in combination with a fender, g, also secured at its central portion, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with bellows E and exhausters or feeders located in pairs alongside of each other, and those of each pair one above the other and connected together to work alternately, of a wind-chest, O P, having two separate compartments, both in communication with said bellows, and the one O in communication with the exhausters and the one l? with the raceway and reed-chest ofthe instrument, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a perforated music-sheet, of a reed-chest, V, having its reeds g2 arranged alongside of each other, in combination with cells a2 in a movable block, W, for each reed, constructed and arranged in relation to the `reeds substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a removable lid, T, having an opening, h3, of a box or chamber ofa shape corresponding to iit within said opening, and to be secured therein from accidental escape in the handling of the lid by a fastening device, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the wind-chest and bellows E, of one or more pairs of. exhausters or `feeders, J J JJJB, located between said bellows and wind-chest, all so arranged that one eX- hauster of each pair exhausts directly from the wind-chest and the other eXhauster of each pair exhausts directly from the bellows.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. HERBERT CHASE.

Witnesses:

T. D. GIBSON, E. P. Crrasn.

IOO 

